Refrigerator-car protective device



May 15, 1923. 1,454,883 A. J. DENMAN ET AL REFRIGERATOR CAR PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 1922 Patented May 15, 1923.

AMBROSE J. DENMAN AND ALMA E. CAUSEY, OF IDALHART, TEXAS.

REFRIGERATOR-OAR PROTECTIVE DEVICE.

Application filed September 9, 1922. Serial No. 587,180.

T 0 all whom 2'15 may concern:

Be it known that we, AMBROSE J. DENMAN and ALMA E. CAUsnY, citizens of the United States, residing at Dalhart, in the county of Dallam, State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Refrigerator-Car Protective Device, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars and more particularly to a means for preventing theft from sealed cars.

Refrigerator cars are usually provided at one or both ends with ice compartments adapted to be filled through openings in the roof of the car. During the winter season or at other times when these compartments do not contain ice, it often happens that persons will lower themselves through the openings in the roof and remove produce from under the partition dividing the ice compartment from the main compartment in the car. In this way many thousands of dollars worth of goods are stolen every year.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means whereby unauthorized access to the ice compartments through the roof openings is prevented without interfering with the circulation of air through the openings.

A further object is to provide guards for the openings which can only be shifted away from the openings by first opening the door of the car and then entering the main compartment.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a horizontal section through one end portion of a refrigerator car showing the roof in bottom plan, one of the guards being fastened in closed position and the other being fastened in open position.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1, a portion being broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a portion of a refrigerator car structure, there being a transverse partition within the structure, as shown at 2, whereby the interior of the car is divided into an ice compartment 3 and a main co'lnpartment 4. That portion of the roof 5 of the car above the compartment 3 is formed with one or more openings 6 through which ice is placed in the compartment 3. During cold weather itis the practice to leave these openings uncovered so that air can circulate through them freely. In warm weather, however, hatches are placed over the openings so as toprevent the admission of warm cent and parallel to the sides of the opening.-

These cleats extend inwardly away from the openlng so as to support the grating when either in closed or open position. An elon gated tongue 9 is extended from one end of the grating and is slidable between spaced guide cars 10 extending downwardly from the roof and containing openings 11.

A depending supporting loop 12 is secured to the roof and is located at a point where it will receive the tongue 9 when the grating is moved back to open position. Spaced openings 13 and 1d areformed in the tongue 9 and a locking pin 15 is connected to the roof 1 by a chain 16 or other flexible device.

It is to be understood of .course that the ears 10, pin 15 and loop 12 are all located in the main compartment 4. close to the roof where they cannot be reached by a person located in the ice compartment 3. When it is desired to secure the gratings across the openings 6 it is first necessary to enter the main compartment 4: through the door thereof. The tongues 9 are then shifted longitudinally until the gratingsare brought to positions across the openings at which time the openings 13 in the tongues 9 Will register with the openings 11 in the ears 10. Pin 15 can then be inserted through the registering openings and can be held therein by placing a cotter 17 in the free end portion of the pin 15. Thus it will be seen that the compartment. 3 can be thoroughly ventilated without danger of unlawful entry. By removing the pins 15 the tongues 9 can be drawn longitudinally into the guide loops 12 to bring the openings 14; into register with the openings 11 after which the pins 15 can be reinserted and the parts thus held in open position. Ice can then be placed in the compartment 3.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment and a main compartment and an opening in the ice compartment, of a grating movably mounted within the car and movable to position across or awayfrom the opening, and cooperating means upon the grating and within the main compartment for fastening said grating in open or closed position.

2. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment and a main compartment and an opening in the ice compartment, of guides within the ice compartment and adjacent the opening, a guard slid- 3. The combination with a refrigerator car having an ice compartment and a main compartment and an opening in the ice compartment, of guides adjacent the opening and within the ice compartment, a guard slidably engaging the guides and movable into or out of osition across the opening, a tongue movable with the guard and within the main compartment, spaced means for engagement by the tongue, and a "fastening pin insertible through said means and the tongue for holding the guard in either of two positions.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto afiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

AMER SE J. DENMAN. ALMA E. CAUSEY. \Vitnesses A. C. JoHNsoN, G. A. Room. 

